Sled-propeller



I(No Model.)

H.- H, HOMBR. SLED PRUPBLLER. y No. 569,201. Patelnt'ed'Oot. 13., 1896,

UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE.' ,f

HOW'ARD H. HOMEB, OF FRANKLIN, MAINE.

SLED-PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,201, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed March 18, 1896. Serial No. 583,689. (N0 Infidel- To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. HOMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Hancock and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sled-Propellers,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to ice-sleds, such as are driven by rearwardly-placed screws rotated by means of the hand or feet.

The invention consists principally in the arrangement of these screws whereby an increased speed may be obtained with only the customary expenditure of power.

It consists, further, in the construction for eliminating the side draft occasioned in the ordinary sleds of this class by the side pressure of the screws upon the ice.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig.2 is a side elevation, of the sled. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modification.

The sled comprises the outer rectangular frame 1, having the rear runners 2 attached to the under side thereof. Fitted within the outer frame is an inner frame 3, carrying trunnions 4, which project from opposite sides thereof and enter bearings in the forward part of the inner sides of said outer frame. This pivotal connection permits of the rear end of the inner frame rising slightly to clear all obstructions encountered when the sled is in motion. connection is shown in Fig. 3, in which 4 represents an eye projecting from the front bar of the outer frame, and this eye is secured by a bolt between the eyes 5', fixed in the inner frame. The inner frame is provided with the central longitudinal braces 5, the transverse braces 6, and the oblique end braces 8.'

A deck or platform 9, supported by the frame l, extends over the frame 3 and provides a place, free from the driving mechanism of the sled, for the reception of the operator of the same or his luggage. The forward or steering pair of runners 10 are carried by a frame 11, provided with an intermediate rearwardly-extending arm 9', which is centrally pivoted between the platform 9 vand the frame 1. The inner end of the arm 9 carries A modification of thisv a toothed segment 10', which meshes with a gear 11', carried on the lower end of the steering-bar 12, having the handle 13 mounted 55 y thereon. 1

A transverse shaft 12' is journaled in bearings in the braces 5, and upon the opposite ends of this shaft the beveled gears 13' are fixed. A sprocket-wheel'lll is secured to the 6o shaft 12', intermediately of the same, and this sprocket is connected to'a larger sprocketwheel 15 by a chain 16.

The sprocket-wheel 15 is mounted in bearing-boxes supported centrally of the frame 3 65 and rotated by either mechanical or manual means. I have shown and described a conventional form of driving mechanism; but I wish it understood that I may employ any l means desirable in place of the same without 7o departing from the spirit of the invention.

Between the braces 6 and the end braces 8 the shafts 17 extend, the forward ends of which project through the braces 6 and carry beveled gears 18, that mesh with the gears 'l 13', before described. Secured to or formed integral with these shafts are the screws 23 of peculiar form, only one of which I will describe, as the other is of the same construction, the only dierence being that it is oppo- 8o sitely turned. The screw is provided with two or more turns, and the turns are separated comparatively a considerable distance from each other. The edge of the screw is sharpened, and it is my intention to have the front end of the flange cut a crease in the ice and the remaining portion of the flanges t0 follow in the crease as the same is rotated.

In a screw where the turns are widely separated the crease out by the front end ofthe 9o flange runs obliquely to the shaft of the screw, and it is necessary, to prevent the sled being forced sidewise, to have the crease lor groove parallel to the end of the sled. I set my shafts obliquely in the frame and eXtending in opposite directions to each other. These shafts are shown herein as converging, as viewed from the front of the sled.

It will be vunderstood from the foregoing. that the pressure of the screws will force the roo sled forward in a straight line, and by reason of the wide separation of the turnsof the screws a comparatively large area is covered by one revolution of the same.v In' the sleds of thisclass as heretofore constructed the screws press upon the ice obliqnely of their shafts, that is, the sides of the flanges press against the ice, and as the screw does not slip the sled is forced forwardly and laterally, the lateral movement of the sled being counteracted by the steering device. By such a construction a good deal of power is uselessly expended, but by my arrangement the only tendency of the screw is to force the sled straight ahead. Y I

I provide a brake mechanism for the sled which consists of the frictional disks a', xed

to the shaft 12', and the brake-shoes b, adapted to be brought into engagement with the same. These shoes are carried .by the plate C, pivoted at CZ and having a pin @projecting from the side edge thereof near its forward end.

A pivoted standard f, having a curved upper l A sled with meansl for4 propelling the same, said means comprising the obliquelyarranged screws.`

2. A sled with means for propelling the same, said means comprising the pair of obliqnely-arranged screws. Y

3. A sled with means for propelling the same, said means comprising the obliquelyarranged screws, said screws extending in opposite directions -to each other.

4. A sled with means for propelling the u same, said means comprising the pair of obliquely-arranged screws, said screws being driven from a common shaft.

V5. Asled .with-means for propelling the same, said-means comprising the screws carrying beveled gears, the transverse shaft carrying gear meshing therewith, the sprocketwheel arrangedfcentrally of: said 4transverse shaft, and theI chain and sprocket for rotating saidftransverse shaft, substantially as described.` :y i i r a,

CLA-sled with meansff'forpropellingrthe same, said *meansl comprising the,:ob1iquol-y arranged screws, and thexbrakamechanism for locking saidscrews;againstlrotatien. am

7. Acsled, Vwith means forpropelliilg:the same, said means.includingtheshaft 1271MB! the screws -carryin g the, "gears, the frictioml disks also carried by; said shaftfthe. brakeshoes, the pivoted plaie under spring-tension l carrying v.said shoes, -andl the.` means Lforar pressing said ,platetoy bring said shoes into contact with 'said ldiskrto lock said screws..

- In 'testimonywhereof:I.y .aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

y 'HoWAnp rr. nonna.

Witnesses: n Y* MARY E. I-IOMR, l ALICE L. HOMER. 

